2024 Pre Season

[wolftone57]

In 2023 the 22yr old James Rowbottom broke Brett Kirk’s record set in 2009 for most tackles - 171.

James ranked fifth in the League through the home-and-away season behind Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell (190), Adelaide’s Rory Laird and Geelong’s Tom Atkins (185), and Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli (172).

And he was Sydney’s No.1 tackler by a long way from Errol Gulden (116) and Luke Parker (110).

James played 12 games in his first year at the Swans which was a great effort for any 18year old.

I’m wondering if James role will evolve a little with the emergence of pick 24 Caiden Cleary and Sheldrick? Ie can James play a little more on the offensive if there is talent pushing for AFL footy?

Cleary similar skill levels in his draft year to James but Caiden looks quite strong and powerful already and his run time for 2km is exceptional. Top5at the club year 1 and top5 in the draft combine.

Caiden had the big benefit of a lot of footy last year in VFL but also interstate games for the draft. Plus knowing and training with the squad has been huge in adopting game awareness expected for AFL.

From what I saw of Caiden it will be hard to keep him out of the side by mid season if he has a simplified role ie tagging tackling / run with.

I can’t wait to see him more at pre season playing a similar role to Rowbottom on the other side and comparing their impact / influence around the contested ball.

Patch
Parker
Mills
Rowbottom
Cleary
Sheldrick
Grundy
Etc all scrapping for the loose ball and the tackle pressure.

Can’t help but think Wicks will be under some serious pressure to make the 22 given his limited role that can be a transitional role for a new emerging talent.

In his first season Wicks kicked a lot of goals. Last year he didn't kick enough. His forward defence improved on 2022. But he is still not giving enough and is a limited player.

Konstanty, Cleary, Sheldrick, Jordan etc are going to make it difficult for him to retain his spot. Using luke Parker forward more, as there are plenty of mids now, will also make it hard for him.

[wolftone57]

Ah, what a lovely problem to have.

VFL side should be very strong if the list is sound, a lot more depth than last year, quite a lot

Yes it should be & trusslove had better get the best out of them or he will be looking for a new appointment next year.

[wolftone57]

Captain
I wouldn’t be too quick to right Rowbottom off. But remember we do have two aging small defenders to replace in Cunningham and Lloyd over the not too distant future, and Rowy may well be suited to one of those roles.
I do get your point about an abundance of talented midfielders, and agree with your overall assessment

I think Longmire likes Rowbottom. I do too. Because much of what he does is not on the stats sheet. His aggressive attack on the ball & player often turn the tide for us. his tackles are bone crunchers. His ability to feed the ball out by any means possible is a starting point for many attacks. Many of those feeds do not get a stat because he pushes, knocks or forces the ball out to a teammate. I think he is a very good value mid. I would put Parker forward this year. We finally have the depth to allow him to go forward permanently. He is a very good mark, kicks goals and has really good goal sense. He is able to feed the ball to others for goal opportunities. He is also a great crumber & he & Paps will make a deadly team of small forwards to compliment the medium & tall forwards.

[wolftone57]

I’m just wondering if I’ve missed something. Many respondents have been naming Mills in the mid-field whilst it’s been my understanding that he will be sidelined for the year.
On another point can anyone tell me what days the groups are training

Not for the year. The first calculation was mid season but the recovery has been faster than expected from what I'm hearing. So, maybe early season, before the break hopefully

[Dow]

https://twitter.com/sydneyswans/stat...000/frame.html

- - - Updated - - -

https://archive.is/SEnYQ

Thank Auntie, I really appreciate that.

[Auntie.Gerald]

And the new gun ruck tapping to JJ

Patch
JJ
Grundy
Familiarity

[Nico]

Has everyone forgotten about Chad? He should be ready to peak.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Has everyone forgotten about Chad? He should be ready to peak.

The mongrel punt preview had a chapter on the Chad.

Unfortunately cutting and pasting such a big chunk is an copyright issue however I am however allowed to offer a precis:

Warner's attack on the footy and the way he is hell-bent on making a a straight line from the contest toward the goal is both a blessing and curse for the Swans. When it comes off, Warner is able to pump the footy deep inside 50 and give his forwards a genuine chance at a one-out contest. However last year a lot of the time the pressure he was under had a severely adverse effect on his disposal.
Many disposals became “nothing” kicks and that tneeds to change. You don’t want to dissuade him from taking the game on, but you also don’t want him spraying the footy around like he is a drunk guy at a urinal trying to write his name. So composure will be the key for Warner in 2024. Perhaps the arrival of Adams will help in that regard?

[Auntie.Gerald]

It did feel that way at times compared to the season before where he ran really nice angles and kicked on angles also to find great options

I wonder if it backs up in stats vs players in other teams with similar roles?

[i'm-uninformed2]

I suspect it was partly a function of sides had a clear eye on his exits and worked hard to shut them down; partly a function of him needing to work his way through something he'd have never have experienced before; and partly a function of the way he was used.

He seemed, at least to the eye, to spend a fraction too much time under the ball at the contest and part of the inner ring.

I think I posted on here before ideally you have a mix that is something like: inner: Mills/Adams/Rowie/Parker/Sheldrick; one step removed with the ability to take space on offer: Chad, Errol, suspect JJ will fall into this bucket -Heeney and Paps when they are on the ball; outer: Campbell, JMac types. And of course players mix and match at times. But there were times last year Chad seemed to need to play in the inner ring for extended stretches.

The arrival of Adams and emergence of Sheldrick should hopefully give him that fraction of extra space and time, and given players of his calibre work in half-seconds and half-metres, it'll mean a lot. For a solid beast, Chad covers the ground very well (even if he could work a little harder defensively at times) and whilst he is never going to be an elite kick of the class of Blakey or Errol, he did show in 2022 he can be a powerful kick and is quite astute with a bit of space at hitting the 30-40m kick quite well.

[Nico]

Teams played on his right hand side that forced him to go left and kick either sideways or inside out. They tried to stop him running in a straight line on his right hand side.

[Dow]

Has everyone forgotten about Chad? He should be ready to peak.

He has a lot of upside, but last year showed he has plenty to work on. I am hoping having some new friends in the midfield takes the pressure off and he feels he doesn't have to do it all by himself. (Nico I feel your right teams worked him out)

[Auntie.Gerald]

Team photo day and Bloods training | Inside Sydney Episode 3 - YouTube

Great footage of the bloods pre season

Just released 11hrs ago

[MadCanuck]

Look like a happy, relaxed bunch, especially the newbies. Gotta be a good sign.

[rickmat]

It's great that the Swans have now become proactive with these clips showing the boys training and simulated games. It's so much more than what has been peddled out by the Swans in previous years. It shows the camaraderie we are building up, the competition between players and how fit the boys are looking at this stage in pre season (fingers crossed no major injuries). One thing that stands out even at this early stage is how awesome Grundy is looking in the simulated games and in confidence he is giving the boys around him. Grundy will be a game changer for the Swans in my eyes, maybe that missing link towards a premiership.